cider and more! It is an adorable little country store full of all kinds of goodies. After pursuing the shop and eating our pastries we picked out our apples and head back to town. We were having so much fun shopping local, we decided to swing by the Ocoee Winery. Unfortunately, Bradley county residents make better apple cider than wine. But, at least they are trying.
Yesterday I took off from work so I could sleep in and recover from our trip to Nashville. Once we finally got up we spent almost the entire day outside. The weather has been amazing and it was marvelous to spend then entire day enjoying it. While lounging in the yard with the dogs we were able to finally get our shutters and flower boxes painted and hung on our storage barn. It will look prettier once the pansies grow a bit but you can get the idea. I am convinced that we have the happiest windows in the world. I would like to take moment to shamelessly plug the Habitat Home Store (if you didn't know I work for Habitat). We bought our shutters there for $3 a piece! With a little time and some paint they looked as good as new at a fraction of the cost.
Jason and I are blessed because we really don’t use our vehicles much. Most days we are able to bike or walk to work. I have been putting off getting gas in my car for two weeks but due to a concert tonight in Nashville (more about that later), I had to fill up. OUCH! How are you people who have to commute not totally broke? Seriously, it is awful. The worst part is that it cost 4 times as much to fill up my 10 gallon tank as it did 10 years ago when I started driving! Remember $.99 a gallon gas? Now I am just happy when I can get gas for under $4 a gallon. Sigh. I really hope that the concert will be worth the money we are spending on gas to get there.
Working downtown I have the privilege of seeing people attempt to parallel park their cars. I cannot tell you how many times I have seen crappie parking jobs. It shocks me how many people can't parallel park. However, this one takes the cake! This person was at least 2 feet on the sidewalk (with both tires!). Who thinks that this it is acceptable parking job?
What did Prissy do this morning while Ann worked hard? She sat on her throne and ruled the house as always. What else would you expect from the princess?
Wonderfully entertaining escapist fiction that encourages you to think.
The Cleveland City Police force has been cracking down on parking violations downtown. The parking spots in front of my office has a two hour limit. An officer comes along every morning and marks the tires on the cars parked on the street. If he comes back 2 hours later and you are still in the spot you get a nice little ticket. This morning everyone in my office could not help but laugh as we watched the officer mark the tires of the Bradley County Community Service Unit car. Apparently no one can escape the parking police (even county employees)! Having all been ticketed at some point, it made us feel better. Obviously the city must be hard up for some cash. But then again, aren't we all right now?
For sometime I have been pondering the possibility of lopping off my hair. Early on I decided that if I did, I would donate it. As soon as I found the web page for Beautiful Lengths, I knew that ready to make the cut.
PS I would like to note that my mother only wore the Wig Bank wig for a couple of weeks. She was not completely happy with the color. She convinced my sister to take her to wig shop in Orlando and by her one (their selection was a bit larger than the Wig Bank). Throughout her illness the American Cancer Society was a huge support to our family. I am happy to support them even if my mom was a little too picky for their wigs :).
Cha Cha is amazing!! Text message a question to Cha Cha (242242) and they will answer it! It is awesome. The only charge is the cost of sending the text message. You can also ask questions on the website. On more than one occasion in the past few weeks Cha Cha taken over a dinner party. It is fun and informative. When it comes to the factual stuff they seem to be pretty much dead on.
Above is a photo of a plumgranny that I purchased this morning at the Farmer's Market. I have never heard of or seen anything like it. Since it was a slow day at the market, I asked the lady at the table what it was and what to do with it. She told me that is was mainly used for fragrance. Although, she did say that her granny ate them (a granny eating a plumgranny--I love it). She said just one in my house would make the entire place would smell wonderful. I took her up her offer and bought one. She was right. It smells amazing. I cannot describe it, but it is delightful. In addition to making my house smell nice, it so cute. It almost looks like a mini-pumkin. Anyway, I just thought I would pass along my delightful framer's market find.
So maybe you are like me and your idea of bluegrass was shaped by the movie "Deliverance" and you are a bit skeptical about finding something in the genre that you can actually enjoy without giving you the creeps. Or perhaps you are an avid Bluegrass listener who has more than one CD entitled "instrumental banjo,” either way, the latest album by Blue Highway as one-size-fits-all bluegrass extravaganza.
The masterful and diverse instrumentation throughout this album will have you tapping your toes and chewing springs of hay in no time. Combine the playing with soft vocals light on the twang and you have “Through the Window of a Train” -- an album that appeals well beyond the typical Bluegrass listener. Whether looking for another “pickin’ and grinnin’” CD or simply wanting to expand the ol' musical horizon, “Through the Window of a Train” by Blue Highway would be a great place to start.
Not sure if you are heady to drop dough for the album? Watch them live first at Chattanooga's ThreeSisters Music Festival on October 4th.
Written for the Bradley News Weekly, published in September 19th by Jason Barks
Who needs Dog the Bounty Hunter when you have the Warlock? Yes, Cleveland has its very own bounty hunter. The truth be told I know NOTHING about this man. However, once you have been made aware of his presence you will see him everywhere! Big Lots, Target, TJ Maxx, Cameron's--EVERYWHERE! I deduct from the condition of his car and his handicap sticker he may not be the best fugitive recovery agent around. If you are a local and spot him let me know. One day I am going to get up the nerve to talk him, I am sure he is an interesting story.
Over the weekend, I bought a gun. Yes, me. I hate guns. Seriously, I loathe and despise them. Jason and I have had more fights over guns (buy, storing, gun control and so on) than we have over any other issue in our marriage. The liberal married a country boy and unfortunately guns have became a part of my life. As for this weekend, I was actually picking up a gun that Jason's dad had ordered from Fugats Firearms in Calhoun (pictured above). The mere fact that I walked into a building like this is impressive. Once inside I actually had to buy a gun. Being ignorant of the process, I was totally caught off guard by all that was involved. Finger prints, background checks and registration. Yes, registration! I have a gun registered to my name! When I offered to pick it up for Jason I did not realize what I was getting into. Of course when I got to Cleveland I immediately went to Ace and asked him if he knew what he got me into. He laughed. He knew. I may have purchased a gun, but I am still not a gun toting woman. I will not be putting an NRA sticker on my car (not that Jason hasn't tried). This whole gun buying fiasco is a testament of the compromise that I am willing to make for the love of my life. He better be grateful :).
Bradley County courthouse still sports a fallout shelter signs from the cold war era. I love that Cleveland still has signs that were hung before I was born.
Last night we went to Bruster's to get Prissy (we did not choose her name, if you don't know the story shoot me an email and I will explain) her first ice cream. They gave her a scoop of vanilla ice cream with a little doggie bone on top. She was in puppy heaven. I realize that we have become 'those people' who treat their dogs like humans. We really cannot help ourselves. Until we have a baby our doggies are our kids. Just wait, winter is coming and we totally will have them in puppy sweaters!
